Steep-tank



(No ModeL? H' PRINZ' S'IEEP TANK. Y No. 548,618. Patented ont. z2, 18Q5;1

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IINTTED STATES PATENT @E'ErnEs WILLIAM H. PRINZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEEP-TAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,618, dated October22, 1895.

Application tiled Getober 1,1894.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAu H. PRINZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improveniente in Steep-Tanks; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a steep-tank employedfor steeping barley and like cereals, and more especially relating to asteep-tank for steeping barley to bring the same to a condition forgerminating in the manufacture of malt.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby thesteeping can be can ried on and the steep-tank emptied under the mostfavorable circumstances, at the same time providing means whereby thesteep-water can be admitted from the upper or lowerl end of tlie'tank.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is aview, partly in vertical section on the line 1 I of Fig. 2 and partly inside elevation, of the lower end portion of a steep-tank and theaccompanying parts constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a View of the same, partly in horizontal section, taken on the line 22 of Fig. l and partly in top plan. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevationofthe sieve or strainer.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the lower end portion of theconical lower end of a steam-tank, said steam-tank being usuallycylindrical at its upper end portion and conical at its lower endportion, as shown, whereby the grain can run out of the same aftersteeping. Communicating with the lower end portion of the tank A is aspout or pipe 2, into which the grain passes and which cornmunicateswith asuitable passage 3 for leading the grain as may be desired.Between the passage 3 and pipe 2 a quick-closing gatevaive I of approvedconstruction is located to control the passage of the grain.

At the present time there are various prosnn No. 524,695. et@ man.)

cesses for steeping grain, which vary in many particulars, but which canbe carried on in a steeptank of ordinary construction, as above referredto. For instance, in some processes the steep-water is admitted at thetop of the tank and is drawn olf at the bottom, while in others thesteep-water is admitted at the bottom and overows at the top of thetank. Further, in some processes the grain, together with thesteep-Water, is allowed to run under its own pressure from the tank,whereas in other cases a pump is located in the passage leading from thesteep-tank to create a suction to draw off the steep-grain and to forceit to any suitable point.

A steep-tank constructed to carry out any of the above-mentioned orother processes in use usually cannot he employed for other purposeswithout alterations that are expensive and troublesome and whichserionslyinterfere with the working of the plant, and it is the objectof this invention to provide a steep-tan k suitable for carrying out theabove processes which are most commonly in use.

At the lower end of the steep-tank 1 is a shoe 5, having an upper-daringor bell mouth 6 to receive the lower conical end of the steeptank. Themain portion 'Zof this shoe 5 has an opening about equal to the openingin the lower end of the steep-tank, which is also about the same astheopening of the spout 2. The lower end of the shoe 5 has a dange 8, bymeans of which it can be connected with the lange 9 at the upper end ofthe spout 2 in a familiar manner. In said Fig. 1 I have shown aremovable nozzle lO, fitting within the lower end of the shoe andprovided with an annular flange 1l, located between the anges 8 and 9 ofthe shoe and spout,and by means of which it is held in position. Thesaid nozzle 10 is smaller than the opening through the shoe 5,and theupper end of said nozzle flares outwardly, as shown at 12, to

avoid an obstructionat the upper end thereof.-

The flanges 8, 9, and 1l are usually held in place by bolts in anobvious manner.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by the use of thenozzle l0 I am enabled to regulate the size of the opening in the lowerend of the steep-tank as found necessary or convenient, either by there` moval entirely of the nozzle or by the inser- IOC tion of nozzleshaving different-sized openings, and thus provide a steep-tank with anopening for the passage of the grain that is adjustable. This feature ishighly important and necessary in certain processes for steeping grainwhere the steep-tank may empty into another steep-tank or may emptydirectly into the passage that conveys the steep-grain to the placewhere it is to be germinated. In the former case the grain runs freelyfrom the tank, while in the latter case a centrifugal pump is usuallyemployed to take the grain from the steeptank and convey it to the placeto be germnated, and it is found impracticable to employ the sam e-sizedopening in either case, for whereas at one time the steep grain andWater would pass off in the correct proportion, yet at another time thegrain would clog and obstruct the operation, which would cause a loss oftime'and money. Thus by employingr the adjustable opening in the lowerend of the steeptank above described l am enabled to avoid thisdifficulty.

To adapt the steep-tank so that it may be used when the steep-water isfed from above or below, I provide the spoutZ with a port 13,communicating with a branch 14, having two ports 15 and 16, each ofwhich is controlled by a valve 17. Between the branch 14: and the port13 I arrange a chamber or enlargement 18, in which is located a sieve orstrainer 19 to prevent the passage of the grain into the branch 14. Thischamber is preferably rectangular in cross-section, and the sieve orstrainer 19 is held by a frame 20, Fig. 3, that slides withinguide-grooves 2l in the side of the chamber. Atthe lower end andopposite said guide-grooves is an opening or slot 22 to permit thepassage of the frame 20, and the lower side of the frame is providedwith a flange 23 to rest against the lower faces of the port and branchand to be secured to the same in any convenient manner-for instance, bybolts 24, as shown in Fig. 1. By this construction the said strainer orsieve can be readily removed for cleansing or renewal. The port 15 ofthe branch communicates with any suitable pipe or passage through whichthe steep-water can pass as it drains from the steep-tank, and in suchcase the port 16 is closed, while when it is desired to admit water tothe tank from the lower end the port 15 is closed and the port 16 openedand fresh water admitted through said port 16. In this way it will beseen that the steep-Water can be admitted at the upper end of the tankand drained off at the lower end through the port 15. The steep-watercan also be admitted at the lower end of the tank through the port 16and can overflow at the upper end, as the process is sometimes carriedon.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a steep tank providedat its lower end with an opening, a shoe secured to the lower end ofsaid steep tank and around said opening, a spout secured to said shoeand a nozzle located within said shoe and secured between said shoe andspout, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a steep tank having a spout at its lower end, ofa branch communicating with said spout, and a strainer located betweensaid branch and spout, said strainer consisting of a sieve 19 held by aframe 2O that is adapted to pass through a slot 22 at one side of saidbranch and enter guide groovesin the inner walls of said branch,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM H. PRINZ. Witnesses:

HARRY COBB KENNEDY, RUDOLPH WM. Lo'rz.

